MEET THE 2022 LEADERSHIP TRAILBLAZER TOP 10 FINALISTS

Today’s Trailblazer: Ghida Neukirch

The League caught up with Top 10 Finalist, Ghida Neukirch, City Manager, Highland Park, Illinois to talk about being named a Leadership Trailblazer and having a career in public service:

Q: Congratulations on being named a finalist for the Leadership Trailblazer Award. What does it mean to you to be nominated? 

Our profession consists of some of the most intelligent, hard-working, ethical, creative, and professional people on the planet, and to be recognized for the distinguished honor of being a finalist for the Leadership Trailblazer Award is a tremendous honor.

I have always strived to give 100% at whatever I am doing. Life is about learning, and pursuing new endeavors and I work to surround myself with people who have strengths that are different than mine in order to learn from them and be a better person.  I believe these opportunities also make me a better professional, and we’re a better organization as well.  This approach has served me well over the last 30 years of my professional career.

I am humbled and truly honored to be considered for this distinguished award, among unquestionably remarkable professionals that I look forward to meeting.

Q: What led you to a career in public service?

As an undergraduate student at DePaul University, I took a political science class that introduced me to local government management.  I loved the class so much that I pursued an internship in my hometown of Mt. Prospect, IL, and had the opportunity to work in their Manager’s Office. From there, I knew I found my calling.  I pursued my Master’s Degree thereafter and have represented four different local governments in my professional career.

I truly don’t believe there is another profession that enables individuals to make such a positive difference in the lives of so many and to get to know the people that we are serving.  It’s a remarkable privilege to carry out local government operations in a variety of different ways such as:

• Helping a business owner open their dream establishment and guide them through the permit and plan review process;
• Ensuring we are providing safe and fresh potable water to the community and neighboring communities;
• Working with residents and businesses as the City invests in its public infrastructure benefiting their surroundings;
• Implementing best practices in public safety in order to best serve our community and guests who visit;
• Supporting developers as they invest in an important project in the community; and
• Evaluating strategies and options so we can ensure that our taxes and fees are the lowest possible while continuing to provide high-quality service to the public.

In an emergency, our experiences and talents are pushed to limits and the vital role of local government is reinforced to the public.  Working in this profession can be very challenging, but it is most rewarding, and I feel incredibly blessed to be in this profession and represent Highland Park.

Q: Who were your mentor(s) or advocate(s) in your career?

First, my mom. I remember watching my mom get ready to go to work every day when I was a kid.  She was so polished, successful, and loved by her colleagues.  She taught me the importance of always being positive and organized and I watched her masterfully balance her corporate job with family life.

My husband is my greatest advocate.  Our profession can be very demanding and unquestionably, long hours, weekends, and sometimes personal attacks by angry residents on social media outlets can be difficult to take.  He is an incredible father and my best friend and I’m grateful for his love and support that has helped me navigate very challenging times over the course of my career.

Through professional associations such as the International City/County Management Association and the Illinois City/County Management Association, we have the opportunity to network and learn from professionals in our region and internationally.  Connections made at conferences, through webinars/seminars, and guidance from reading professional journals have helped tremendously to provide insight on a variety of topics from ethics to technical matters such as budgeting and stormwater management.

Colleagues such as Heidi Voorhees, Juliana Maller, Katy Rush, and Joellen Cademartori have not only served as confidants and advisors, but these professional relationships have also yielded genuine and lifelong friendships.  After I gave birth to my first child many years ago, I knew that I wanted to return to work, but it was also so incredibly difficult to leave the first day knowing I wouldn’t be home for 12 hours after a Village Board meeting. I called Juliana in tears and within a few minutes, I felt more confident in the ability to balance the joys of parenthood with my passion for public service.  The support we provide each other in this profession is more than the job; it’s about supporting the professional through positive celebrations and challenging obstacles.

Q: What is the most important lesson you learned while coming up in your career?

One person can make a difference, a team can make a miracle.  That quote was in my room throughout high school and college and it now is in my office. I played soccer for DePaul University and then for the Illinois Women’s Soccer League (IWSL).   I enjoy staying active and have carried the teamwork approach to my professional career as well. It doesn’t matter if an individual was part of an athletic club or not, the concept is that we work best when we are all working together, grounded by a single foundation which is our mission statement. We respect everyone’s opinion, value our differences but ultimately work together toward a common goal.  In this regard, we are not only making a difference in the world, but we can truly accomplish anything.

Q: What advice do you have for women just beginning their careers who would like to be an executive in local government someday?

If you can dream it, you can achieve it.   Whatever position someone aspires to be in, make a roadmap for what you need to do to get there and surround yourself with professionals and friends that will support your endeavor.

Learn as much as you can. Read professional articles. Shadow professionals in your organization so you learn about their jobs, responsibilities, and skill set.   Ask to meet with colleagues in other communities so you can learn about their backgrounds and experiences.  Regardless of the demands that I may be addressing at work, I believe it is critical to take time to meet with a colleague if they want to discuss their career aspirations or any matter that they may be facing.

Network. This is often difficult for introverts, but it truly is a great opportunity. If you are uncomfortable calling someone to schedule a meeting, start with an email to introduce yourself which is a more comfortable approach for some people. It’s also so easy to get comfortable with people we know at meetings and conferences, but we also need to take advantage of the opportunity to meet new people. Volunteer on a committee for a professional association. Volunteer for a board in the community you serve.

Listen before you speak.  Some people treat conversations like a competitive sport, in which the person who says the most, persuades others of an opinion, or speaks the longest is the winner.   Contrary, we are more informed when we listen to others’ opinions first and then provide our own.

Always be honest.  It’s that simple.

Q: What do you hope to leave as your legacy in local government when your career comes to an end?

I read an article several months ago about the importance of caring.  For my legacy, I hope that people will remember that I cared. It seems so simple, and perhaps it is, but it also includes so many facets to life.

I care tremendously about my family and would give my life to them.

I care about the community I serve. Public engagement is so important and we will hear from residents and businesses about their opinion, which is important, but I also care about the voices that may not be as loud and will always try to reach those people too.

I care about our employees and want to hear their opinions and recommendations. Collective bargaining negotiations are approached in a collaborative manner because we want to be fair to everyone affected.

I care about following the rules, being transparent, and ethical, setting a positive tone for the organization, and being a good role model for my kids.

I care that we are an inclusive organization and community, whereby everyone is valued and respected.

I care very much when I know that people are being hurt or negatively affected and will do everything I can to help.

Caring gets me out of bed at 2:00 AM if there’s an emergency in the community, and caring help ensure that I am always prepared for meetings and 10 minutes early because if you’re not early, you’re late.

I care.